In a world obsessed with the “next big thing,” there is something deeply intoxicating about a house that has existed for nearly two centuries, quietly refining the art of elegance and craft. Long before Hermès stitched its first saddle or Louis Vuitton hammered its first trunk, the iconic brand, Delvaux was already at work in Brussels.
Founded in 1829, just a year before Belgium itself was born as an independent nation, Delvaux holds the distinction of being the oldest fine leather goods company in the world.
What began as a leather goods shop opened by Charles Delvaux, who was a craftsman with an eye for both utilitarian and refinement, quickly became aligned with the very spirit of Belgium. Initially, the atelier produced luxury travel trunks and cases for the burgeoning railway age. It was a time when wealthy Europeans discovered the thrill of mobility. Delvaux dove in head first to this appetite for movement with luggage that balanced function and grace only reserved for aristocrats.
Patenting The First Leather Handbag Design
By 1908, Delvaux had filed patents for handbag designs. Way ahead of its time. Decades before handbags were considered essential accessories. This foresight speaks to Delvaux’s instinctive understanding of women’s evolving lives: the need for elegance without surrendering function.
The mid-20th century marked Delvaux’s metamorphosis from a local Belgian name to a true luxury goods house. Under the guidance of François Schwennicke, who acquired the house in 1933, Delvaux shifted its focus to handbags exclusively.
This was not a retreat but a refocusing of the next move forward. Schwennicke understood that the handbag, when made with precision, craft and artistry, could be an object of permanence. Something that could be passed down. Something that is more sculpture than accessory.
The Iconic Designs of Delvaux
Delvaux has never been interested in chasing trends. Instead, it has created them patiently with designs that are classic, versatile and long lasting.
The most iconic of these is the Delvaux Brillant handbag, introduced in 1958 to coincide with the Brussels World’s Fair. Its structured design based with architectural lines, and jewel-like buckle reflected the optimism and modernism of the time. To this day, the Brillant remains Delvaux’s crown jewel, a bag that whispers rather than shouts its pedigree.
Other models followed—the Delvaux Tempête in 1967, inspired by a yacht’s trapeze, and the Pin, whose curved silhouette and ease of use reflected the relaxed spirit of the 1970s. Each bag, while distinct, shares Delvaux’s DNA: meticulous craftsmanship, Belgian wit, and an enduring sense of discretion.
Crafted and Quiet Luxury Handbags and Leather Goods
Every Delvaux bag is still handmade in Belgium and France.
The process is monastic:
- Leathers are sourced from the world’s finest tanneries
- Patterns are cut with surgical precision
- Stitching is performed with the patience of a watchmaker
- A single bag can take more than eight hours of handcrafted work
- Each artisan leaving behind something something filled with devotion
Unlike many global brands, Delvaux has resisted the temptations of mass production or “being everywhere” branding. There are no monograms, no in-your-face logos.
A Delvaux bag is identified not by an outsider’s gaze but by the knowing glance of an insider. This is luxury at its most rare. It whispers and doesn’t shout for attention.
Delvaux’s Connections To Belgian Royalty and Global Reach
Delvaux has also held the title of Purveyor to the Royal Court of Belgium since 1883. A mark of its stature and its intimate connection to Belgian culture. And yet, it wasn’t until the late 20th and early 21st century that Delvaux began to get more notoriety globally.
In 2011, Delvaux was acquired by the luxury investment grouo, First Heritage Brands, to expand internationally while keeping its essence intact. Boutiques began to open in Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, New York—each designed not as a store but as an extension of Delvaux identity: cultured, intellectual, quietly witty.
By 2020, Delvaux joined the luxury heavyweight, Richemont Group, which slotted nicely alongside Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Yet even within this constellation of storied maisons, Delvaux remains the connoisseur’s choice, less known to the masses, fiercely adored by the few.
Delvaux Today
Owning something from this historic maison means owning much more than just a handbag. It is to carry nearly 200 years of European history, innovation, and designs fit for royalty. It is a statement against fast fashion, against the tyranny of loud logos and trendy hype. It is a choice for those who understand that true luxury isn’t about being seen, it’s about seeing clearly.
From the cobbled streets of Brussels to the world’s great fashion capitals, Delvaux continues to prove that longevity itself is the ultimate luxury. Delvaux doesn’t need to reinvent itself each season because it has always known who it is: the quiet architect of the handbag, the keeper of a legacy older than Belgium itself.
For more information about Delvaux, be sure to visit their website.
The Delvaux Boutique in Canada
If you are interested in purchasing a Delvaux bag for yourself and owning a piece of history that’s older than any other luxury leather goods brand, be sure to head to their Delvaux Boutique located in Holt Renfrew in Vancouver.
All Photos courtesy of Delvaux.
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